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March 8, 1932. L. J. GARY PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR CONVERTING OILS Or1g1na1 Flled June 9 1922 011/271 for Zee J 6ar y, MKW

This invention relates to improvements in process and apparatus for converting oils and refers more particularly to the conversion of heavy hydrocarbon oils into lighter boiling point products, such as gasoline and the like, by subjecting these heavy oils to the action of heat and pressure.

The invention consists in heating the oil, preferably in a continuous coil of small pipe and then passing itto successive enlarged reaction chambers where the oil is further heated and vaporization takes place. Each of these reaction chambers is provided with individual reflux condensing means, which are in turn connected to a vapor line leading to a cooling coil. T he arrangement is such that the reflux condensate from any of the reflux condensers can be returned to any or all oiithe enlarged chambers for further treatment or to the heating coils, or it may be withdrawn from each reflux condenser into a main line and conducted out oi the system. In other words, this refluxv condensate can be conducted to any part, in or out of the systern merely by the manipulation of suitable valves, hereinafter described and explained in detail. The whole system may be main-' tained under -a uniform pressure of the vapors generated therein, or difi'eren'tial pressures may be used. 1 1

The single figure in the drawing is a vertical sectional view of an oil cracking apparatus showing my invention.

. Referring to the drawing, the oil is conducted from any suitable source of supply through the line i, regulated by the valve 2, to the pump}. The discharge side of the pump 3 is connected with line at leading into the heating coils 5; The heating coil which,

in the resent instance, comprises a continuous coil of small diameter pipe,-say 2", is mounted in the furnace 6, which is heated by gas burner 7. 'l he oil after being heated in the heating coils, is passed through the transfer pipe 8, provided with valves 8 and 8", the latter, in the present instance, being closed and the heated oil passed into the top of the first enlarged chamber, There are four of these chambers shown in the present instance, designated 9, 10,11 and 12 rewith vapor it is undertran sfer lines 16,

ess of these ii desirable.

Each oi these chambers is provided 6% the dephlegniatcrs or reflux condensers se, 35

35, 36 and 37, which in turn are provided with vapor outlet lines 38, 3S, Aland 41 leading into the vapor line The'vapor line is provided with valves 25,,20.

This vapor line l-Q in turn is connected to the condensing or cooling coils d3, seated in condenser box 44, connected by pipe 4:5 with receiver i6. The receiver ill is equipped with pressure gauge 47,1iquid level gauge 48, pressure relief valve 29, and drawoil' line 50,

regulated by valve 51.

Referring again to the" dephlegmators 34,, 35, and 37, they are provided with the cap portions 52, 53, and 55, extending over the vapor outlets 30, 31, 32 and 33, to allow the 8G vapors free'ingress into the dephiegmators but preventing any condensed liquids from falling back into the enlarged chambers 9-, 10, 1 1 and 12. Each deplilegmator is provided with a reflux condensate drawoif line indicated at 56, 5'4, 58 and 59 regulated by the valves 60, 61, 62 and 63, leading into the drawofi line 6%. r This drawoil line 6% is provided with the valves 65, 66, 6? and 68 for regulat:

ing the flow of condensate therethrough. 69

This line 64: is also provided with drawofi pipes 69, 70, H and 72 controlled by the valves 73, 7e, 75 .and'i'ii, leading into the chambers 9, 10, ll andlfZ. The pipes 69, 70, 71 and 72 preferably extend below the liquid level. in the enlarged chambers, as shown. The dephlegmators 35, 36, 3'? are also provided with reflux drawofi' pipes 77 and 78 and 79, controlled by valves 89, 81 and 82, which lead into the preceding reacting charcber, below the liquid level thereof. For the purpose of drawing ofl any condensate either from the line 64 or from the dephlegmator 37, I provide a drawofl line 83, controlled by valve 84, and leading to any suitable storage.

The vapor transfers 16, 17 and 18 are provided with the valves 85, 86 and 87 for the purpose of controlling the flow of vapors theretemperature of say, 400 degrees F. The

heated oil is then forced through the transfer line 8, the valve 8' being opened and the valve 8" closed, into the chamber where the lighter boiling point fractions vaporize instantly and pass up into the dephlegmator 34, the valve 88 being opened and the valve 85 closed; The unvaporized liquid in the chamher 9 is subjected to further heat and when this liquid reaches the level of the liquid transfer pipe 13, it will overflow into the chamber 10. As the level in the chamber 10 rises, it will overflow int o chamber 11 through the transfer "pipe 14 and this operation repeated in the tank 12 by means of the pipe .15,\.

until the chambers are all at thesame level as indicated by the liquid level gauge 92.

The liquid level may be maintained uniformly throughout the chambers by manipulation of the valve 29 on the drawofi' line 25, or the level maintained by manipulation of the valves-on the drawofl pipes at the bottom of each chamber, which drawofl' pipes,'as stated, are outside of the fire zone. Valves 85, 86, 87 will remain closed, the valves'88, 89, 90 and 91 opened to permit the vapors from each chamber to flow. into the dephleg'mator.

above it. The vapors which are notcondensed in the reflux condensers or dephle'gmators 34, 35, 36 and 37, will flow into the vapor line 42 to the condenser 43, where 95 being closed. A pressure of say, 125

pounds to the square inch, may be maintained throughout the system, and the oil in the enlarged chambers heated to a tempera ture of say, 750 degrees F.

Another method of operation would he te they will condense and flow into the re-- close the valves 93, 94, 65, 66, 67, 68, 61, 62,

63; and open the valves 80, 81 and 82, 60 and 73, thus allowing the'reflux condensate from the reflux condensers 35, 36, and 37, to flow back into the preceding chamber. for retreatment and the condensate from the reflux condenser 34 allowedto fall back into the chamher 9. It is understood that the vapor transfer lines between the chambers would be closed by closing the valves 85, 86 and 87.

Another method of operationwould be to close the valve 8' and open the valve 8'1, thus allowing the heated oil from the heating coil to pass into the first reflux condenser 34. The lighter fragt ions vaporizing in the chamber 34 would pass through the line 42 into the condenser and the residual liquid withdrawn by opening the valves 60 and 7 3 to the chamber 9, where it is further heated, and the process operated as first described, returning the reflux condensate from the chambers 35, 36 and.37 to the line 64 and into line 69 by properly manipulatingthe valves to the preceding chambers for retreatment.

Another method of operation would be to close the valves 88, 89 and 90, leading to the reflux condensersand open the valves 85, 86 and 87 on the vapor transfer lines between the chambers, thus allowing all the vapors to flow into successive chambers, and out through the line 33, the valve 91 being open to the reflux condenser 37. The condensate from the reflux condenser 37 maybe returned tothe chamber 9 by closing the valves 65, 74 and 75, 7 6, 42a, 42b, 42c, and opening the valves 63, 66, 67, 68 and? 3, and closing the valves 84, '60, 61, 62 and 82. By properly regulating the valves 85, 86 and 87, a difi'erential pressure may be maintained on the oil in the chambers 10, 11 and 12. For instance, a pressure of 200 pounds may be maintained on the chamber 9, 150pounds on the chamber10, 100 pounds on the chamber 11 and '7 5 pounds-on the chamber'l2. This last mentioned-press'ure of 75 pounds may be maintained throughout the balance of the system, or slower pressure held thereon.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the process may be operated in many various ways by manipulating the valves shown. For instance, by regulating the ess operated as above.

In addition, each reaction chamber may be heated separately by means of heating means suitably placed under them, and the fire in the furnace 19 not used. The oil could be heated in the heating coils to say, 700 degrees Ii, then passed to the original chain above and further heated in the chambers 11 and 12 by means of individual burners.

The process and apparatus could be operated under a vacuum, by suitable vacuum pump being attached to the receiver, and the a whole system regulated by the various valves under this vacuum.

As an illustrative run of my process, I take a California gas oil of say, 27 degrees Baum and heat it to a temperature of say, 400 degrees F. in the heating coil 5, and a temperature 'of say, 750 to 850 degrees F. in the chambers 9, 10, 11 and 12, maintaining a pressure on the entire system, from heating coil to receiver, of say, 125 pounds to the square inch. By the use of this process, a yield of from to 80% pressure distillate, having a gravity of 48 to 50 degrees Baum, may be obtained, which will yield 30 to 35% of commercial gasoline of a gravity of 58 to 60 degrees Baum, when subjected to further distillation, based on the original charge.

Suitable valves are interposed on the transfer line for the liquid between the various enlarged chambers, for the purpose of regulating the pressure to a nicety and to enable the apparatus to be operated under 'diflerential pressures as described.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an apparatus for converting hydrocarbon oil, the combination with means for initially heating the oil,'means for passing the heated oil to a plurality of enlarged reaction'chambers connected in series where the oil is further heated, and where vaporization takes place, means for passing the vapors released in said reaction chambers to reflux condensing zones individual to each reaction chamber, means for returning the reflux condensate from each ofsaid reflux condensing means except the first tothe preceding reaction chamber for retreatment, means for maintaining a vapor pressure on the entire system.

2. In an apparatus for converting hydrocarbon oil, the combination with means for initially heating the oil, means for assing the heated oil to a plurality of enlarge secondary heating zones, where the oil is further heated and vaporization takes place, meansior subjecting the evolved vapors from each of said secondary heating zones to reflux condensation individual to each zone, means for drawing off the vapors, means for returning the reflux condensate from certain of the reflux condensing zones to the initial heating means for further treatment, means for passing reflux condensate from the remaining reflux condensing zones to a preceding secondary heating zone and means for maintaining a pressure on the entire system.

3. A process of converting hydrocarbon oils, consisting in initially heating the oil in a coil, passing the heated oil to a plurality of enlarged secondary heating zones, connected in series, maintaining a constant level in the said'secondary heating zones, heating the oil therein, to a conversion temperature, passing the vapors released from each of said secondary zones to its individual reflux condensing means, drawing ofi the vapors from said re- .flux condensing means, returning the reflux condensate from certain of said reflux con- (lensing means to one of the secondary heating 'zones for retreatment inreturning the reflux condensate from the remaining reflux condensing means to said coil, and maintaining a predetermined pressure on the system.

4. A process of converting hydrocarbon oils, consisting in initially heating the oil, passing the heated oil to a plurality of enlarged secondary heating zones connected in series, maintaining a uniform level in the said secondary heating zones, heating the oil therein to a conversion temperature, passing the vapors released from each of said secondary zones to its individual reflux condensing means, drawing off the vapors from said reflux condensing means, returning the reflux condensate from all of said reflux condensing means save the first of the series to a preceding secondary heating zone for retreatment, and maintaining a predetermined pressure on the system.

LEE GARY. 

